Machine for cutting umbrella-covers



G. P. WAGHTBRSHAUSER- Machine for Q utting Umbre11a-0lovvers- NQ. 225,443 -Patenfedfman 9, |880.Y

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE `F. WAOHTERSHAUSER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR cuT'TlN G UMBRELLA-COVERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,443, dated March 9, 1880.

Application filed May 19, 1879.

To all whom t't may concern:

. Be it known that I, GEORGE F. WAoH'rERs- HAUSER, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Machine for Cutting Out Umbrella or Parasol Covers, of which the following is a specification.

The main object of my invention is to construct a machine for, rapidlyand accurately cutting from a strip or strips of fabric segments of umbrella or parasol covers, a further object being to provide for the adjustment of the cutting-knives so as to vary the shape of the segment, as desired. These objects I attain in the manner which I will now proceed to describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a transverse section of the machine; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 3, a plan view; and Fig. 4, a detached view of the cutter, showing the means of adjusting the-knives.

A A are the opposite side frames of the machine, connected together" by transverse bars a a at the bottom, and by a transverse plate, b, at the top. To` suitable bearings in the side frames, A A, is adapted a transverse shaft, B, to which power is applied from any adjacent source, this shaft carrying a cam, d, which rotates in an oil-box, e, and acts upon an antifriction roller, f, hung to the lower end of a sliding frame, D.

The frame D is adapted to vertical guides on the side frames, A A, and carries at its upper end a longitudinally-adjustable table, i, and bearings for a pair of rollers, E E, geared together so that their faces travel at the same speed.

To an opening in the top plate, b, is adapted the stem on of the cutter F, the latter consist- Aing of a plate, n, with inclined edges, having 4.) llhe screws w thus carry the knives, and the screws a' serve o aid in adjusting them and securing them in ment.

roper position after adjust- Each knife J consists of a thin plate of steel,

so that it possesses suflcient flexibility to permit it to be bent to any shape which the character of the segment to be cut may demand.

The cutter is maintained in proper vertical position by means of a sliding plate, 7c, on the top of the plate b, said plate k having a forked end adapted to a groove in the stem m of the cutter. y

The stem m is made in two parts, the lower portion, in which the groove is formed, being attached to the cutter, and the upper portion carrying the operating-wheel p, and being detachablefrom the lower portion. .By this means the cutter can be readily detached Afrom the machine, for, upon removing the upper portion of the stem and withdrawing the plate k, the cutter will drop down so that the portion of the stem carried thereby is clear of the plate b, and the cutter can then be drawn out at one end of the machine for adjustment or repairs, and may be replaced with equal facility.

In the operation of the machine it is necessary to reverse the cutter, as explained. hereinafter, and in order to retain said cutter in either 'of its two extreme positions the lower portion of the stem m has notches n formed on opposite sides thereof, a spring catch, y', being adapted to one or other of these notches, according to the position of thecutter. The table i is adjusted by means of a screw-ste1n,j, secured to the frame D, and adapted to a nut, z, on the under side of the table, as shown in Fig. 2.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Any desired number of thicknesses of fabric are drawn from a roll or rolls suitably located and pass between the feed-rolls E E on the frame D. While said frame D is depressed the rolls are operated so as to feed the fabric forward over the table until the front end of the said fabric is directly beneath the cutter F. rIhe feeding motion is then stopped and the frame D elevated, so as to press the fabric `against the knives J, which cut a wedge-shaped piece` from each layer of fabric, the frame D being then depressed. The cut pieces are removed, the fabric again fed forward to a certain extent, and the cutter F reversed, so that the front knife of the cutter and the front edge of the fabric are in line with each other. The frame D is then again lifted, the fabric again IOO cut, the frame depressed, the cut pieces removed, the fabric fed forward, and the cutter reversed, as before, and this operation is repeated continuously. The table i is moved at intervals, so that a different surface is presented for the cutting action of the knives, whereby the surface of the table is maintained in uniform condition and the formation of grooves and ridges on the same is prevented.

By means of the above-described machine the segments may be cut more rapidly and accurately than by hand, the construction of the cutter permitting the shape of the segment to be varied, as desired.

The various parts may be driven by gearing connected to the main shaft, so that the necessary operations will follow in their regular order without requiring close attention on the part of the attendant, whose principal duty it is to remove the cut pieces of fabric after each operation of the machine.

It is not necessary in carrying out theinvention that the exact construction and arrangement shown and'described should be used in every case. For instance, instead of having a iiXed cutter and a vertically-reciprocatin g worktable, as described, the table might be fixed vand the cutter caused to reciprocate, or both might have a reciprocating motion.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination of the frame A and its cutter F with the frame D, having a screwstem, j, secured thereto, so as to be incapable of longitudinal movement, and the table t', adapted to guides on lthe frame D, and having a nut, z, adapted to the stem j, all substantially as set forth.

2. lIhe combination ofthe top plate, b, of the machine, the cutter F, having a twopart stem, m, grooved as described, and the forked sliding plate 7c, as set forth.

3. The combination of the frame-Bland its table z' with the frame A, carrying the cutter F, the knives J of which are iiexible and adjustable, as set forth.

4. The Within-described cutter, consisting of the plate n, with inclined ribs s, the knives J, the knife-holding screws w, and the adjustingscrews as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name 5o to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. F. WAGHTERSHAUSER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM J. COOPER, HARRY SMITH. 

